Basement Remodeling
Wilsonville Oregon
Ready To Remodel?
If you are fortunate enough to have an unfinished dry basement in Wilsonville, you have hit the jackpot when it comes to additional living space. It may be difficult to see past the limitations of your basement, but the fact of the matter is that it does not have to be limited to a creepy room where you keep all your junk. Being creative with your basement area will help you make use of the added footage, and increase the value of your home. With that in mind, the challenging nature of basement remodeling is why so many basement remain “unfinished”.
Although there can be numerous ways to transform your basement into one of the more welcoming rooms in your home, you need to first ensure that the space is actually livable. Remodeling your basement is not the same as renovating the other rooms in your home. These unique challenges must be taken into consideration. Having a clear understanding of what all the project entails will allow you to establish much more realistic expectations.
There are a several things you need to consider: whether the basement has moisture problems; whether it has provisions for heating and cooling; whether it has ducts and pipes below the ceiling joists that may need relocation; whether it is radon-free, and whether you have sufficient ceiling height.
How will you use it?
Once you have determined that your basement can be remodeled, then you must decide the best use of the space. Converting a basement into a home theater room has become a very popular idea in recent years.. Obviously that is an option, but there are many different ways to use your basement, including a home gym, mother-in-law suite, home office, or even an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to generate extra income.
The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and budget. The good thing is that if you have enough space you can combine ideas. Unfortunately there are various limits to what you can use your basement for, so you need to make sure that your ideas will be in compliance with the local building codes. Converting your basement into another bedroom is a pretty common thing, but to do so requires that you make sure there at least one additional means of egress besides just thet stairs. Adding basement windows that are big enough to crawl through will allow you to comply with the code.
What about my storage space?
We all know that for some reason or another basements tend to eventually turn into junk rooms. This means that all this junk needs to be moved elsewhere when you renovate your basement. Taking this into consideration you will probably still need to allocate some of the square footage to storage. However, you can also find more creative ways to create storage areas in your house. For instance, you could build shelving or small closets under the stairwell, have shelves along the walls enclosed behind small doors, or use stock cabinetry as storage chests and bench seats.
What about basement flooring?
Due to the fact basements are below ground level the flooring choices can be limited. While a carpet may be your first preference for floor covering in your basement, you do not want to have to contend with mildew and mold. This may occur if you have a water problem, in addition to the hassle of a constantly damp or wet carpet. If there is any kind of moisture concerns in your basement then you should consider waterproofing before you consider your flooring choices. That said, dry basements do actually exists. If you happen to be lucky enough to have a dry basement then carpeting is a perfectly sensible choice. If you are sure you have a dry basement, there’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t get carpet.
It’s well known that moisture is often times an issue with basements and this can influence your flooring choices. Thankfully there are sub-floors that are specifically designed for basements. These are manufactured to form a barrier to any moisture that might permeate the concrete slab underneath. Believe it or not, all-in-one options do exist. They consist of plastic sub-floor tiles fused to a finished floor surface. Finishing the concrete floor is also an option, and you can even include stain or color options. One of concrete’s main benefits is that you never have to worry about mold, but with concrete it is worth considering adding in-floor radiant heat to protect against possible moisture build up and assist with climate control.
Wilsonville Basement Finishing
There are many more things to consider for your basement remodeling, including your ceiling options, window and lighting options as well as all the building codes you need to adhere to. As such, it is always worthwhile to work with professionals who understand all the unique challenges that come with basement finishing. Steve’s Home Improvement has a team of remodeling contractors that are specialists in basement renovation and service all of Clackamas County, Oregon.
For all of your basement finishing needs in Wilsonville Call (503) 342-8234 today for a free estimate.
CCB# 185266